Window guide



J. HEZLER, JR

WINDOW GUIDE Aug. 21, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 14, 1947 INVENTOR.

40am, i 01144" ATTURM'TYS.

J. HEZLER, JR

Aug. 21, 1551 WINDOW GUIDE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 1947 INVENTOR.

- ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 21, 1951 WINDOW GUIDE.

Julius Hezler, Jr., South Bend, 1nd,, assignor to The Studebaker Corporation, South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application June 14, 1947, Serial No. 754,719

My present invention relates to an improvement in a window guide structure of a type adapted for use primarily in automotive vehicles, such as passenger cars and trucks.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide a window guide structure as, for example, for the main window panel of a door of an enclosed vehicle embodying means for raising and lowering of the window including a simple form of guide means for preventing binding or cooking of the main window panel in the frame means therefor.

My invention is particularly adaptable for use in front doors of vehicles embodying a pivotably mounted quarter-panel or wing and a second larger or main panel movable vertically upwardly and downwardly for closing and opening the main window opening. In the past the main glass panels of such doors generally have had guiding engagement in substantially vertically extending channels at opposite side edges thereof. In such structures it is difficult to prevent binding or cooking of the main glass panels in that both side edges of these panels are engaged and guided in the channel guideways. However it is proposed for better design of vehicle bodies to have such main window panels of a form in which the opposite side edges thereof taper upwardly toward each other, and it will be readily apparent that with such a glass panel that the window guide is diflicult to design to guide the opposite side edges of the panel in the vertical raising .and lowering of the same.

In order to accommodate a design of a window panel as last described, I propose to provide guide means operative to guide the panel in the vertical raising and lowering of the same in a manner in which it will not bind or cock in the window frame. It will be understood, however, that while my present invention is particularly adapted for use with the type. of window panel referred to that it also has use in present conventional forms of windows and in other types of windows in which the. panel is moved vertically in the opening and closing the window.

The guide means of my present invention in the main comprises a vertically extending guide member as, for example, of tubular formation fixed adjacent its upper and lower ends internally of the door below the window opening. This guide member is preferably although not necessarily disposed substantially centrally of the main panel to be raised or lowered, and serves to provide for guiding a supporting member in which the lower edge of the glass panel is suitably secured for 1 Claim. (Cl. 296-445) movement vertically upwardly and downwardly. The glass panel supporting member preferably comprises a tubular portion having sliding engagement with the guide member and guides the panel in the vertical movement of the same. Raising and lowering of the supporting member may be effected by means of a pinion rotatable by means of a conventional form of handle carried by the door, and with the pinion having meshing engagement with a sector member to which one end portion of an arm is secured and with the opposite end of the arm having a sliding connection with the supporting member. In such an arrangement of parts upon rotation of the pinion the sector member is caused to be rotated with the connecting arm between the sector member and the glass panel supporting member for movement of the latter vertically upon the tubular guide rod for moving the glass panel relative to the window opening for opening and closing the latter.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of my invention will appear from the detail description.

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of construction and utilizing devices in accordance with my present invention, I shall describe in connection with the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a front door for a vehicle body of the passenger car type with the door being broken away to show a window guide structure constructed in accordance with my present invention;

Figure 2 is a detail vertical sectional view with certain parts being shown in elevation, taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the window guide means of Figures 1 and 2 removed from the door and showing the glass panel supporting member in its uppermost position and in which the window opening of a door is closed;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 5 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 6 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical detail sectional view of a portion of a vehicle door illustrating the manner in which the main glass panel for closing the window opening is arranged for sliding movement between the inner and outer panels of the door.

Referring now to the drawings, I have shown my invention embodied in an automobile door i with the door 7 selected for purposes of disclosing my invention being of a type adapted for use as a front door of a closed passenger type body for an automotive vehicle. The door l comprises inner and outer sheet metal panels 2 and it appropriately secured together in a known manner and forming a window opening l2 at the upper portions thereof, and a closed portion 13 for substantially the lower half of the door. A quarter panel I3 is mounted at the forward end portionof window opening ii. The quarter panel may be hingedly mounted in the door in a conventional manner with the construction of the quarter panel it herein shown being in all respects the same as presently known constructions except that in the present instance the glass panel is formed with its edge extending diagonally downwardly forwardly of the vehicle as distinguished from present day construction in which this edge extends substantially vertically. It will presently appear that by virtue of my invention a quarter panel constructed in the fashion of the quarter panel i i shown in the drawing. may be used, if desired, for purv poses of design of the vehicle in that guiding of opposite side edges of the main glass panel is not necessary. Thus, with my present invention the design of the vehicle body or doors is not limited in requiring that vertical guide channels be provided at either one or both side edges of the panel for guiding the same, although it will be appreciated that main window panels having either or both side edges extending vertically may be used, if desired.

The window guide means of my present invention is shown generally at it at illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 comprises a metal tubular member 11 whichfis. flattened at one end as at it] and bent at right angles to the tubular body portion providing a flange which is adapted to be secured to a bracket l9 as by the nuts and bolts 20. The bracket. I 9 is formed of sheet metal or the like and preferably is secured as by welding substantially centrally and adjacent the bottom of the inner panel 9 of the door. The other end of the tubular member I? as shown in Figure 4 preferably is secured as by welding in a groove 22. of a bracket 23 which bracket is secured substantially centrally of the inner panel 9 adjacent the upper end thereof as by the pairs of screws '24. The bracket 23 at the upper end of the tubular member ll and the lower bracket 19 as indicated in Figure l are positioned so that the tubular member ll extends substantially vertically and preferably substantially centrally below the main window opening I2 of the door 1. The flange 98 at the lower end of the tubular member 11' as shown in Figure 6 is formed with elongated slots 26 through which the bolts for securing the same to the bracket [9 extend and with the upper portion of the bracket f9 being provided with elongated slots '3 extending transversely of the slots 26 to provide for adjustment of the mounting of the lower end of the tubular member on the bracket E9 to effect a substantial vertical alignment of the tubular member I! between the inner and outer panels of the door I. A supporting member 3&1 providing for support of a main glass panel 32 comprises an elongated tubular portion 33 disposed about and adapted to have sliding engagement with the tubular guide member 11 and has a bracket member 35 secured thereto as by welding of the tubular member 33 in the groove 3? of the bracket. The bracket 35 is formed with laterally extending arm portions 3838 to which a sheet metal panel 39 is secured as by the pair of screws 4040. The panel member 39 has secured as by welding to the upper end portion thereof a sheet metal channel member 42 of substantially U shape in crosssection which receives the lower edge of the main glass panel 32. A substantially U shaped rubber liner fi l is disposed between the channel member 42 and the adjacent portion of the lower edge of the main glass. panel 32 to provide a cushion mounting for the main window panel 32. As shown in Figure 1 the channel 42 receiving the lower edge of the main window 32' extends substantially the full length of the panel 32 to support the entire lower edge thereof.

Referring now to Figure 1, it will be observed that the panel member 39 is formed with an elongated slot 50 extending substantially horizontally and within which a roller 5| carried at one end of an arm 53 has rolling engagement to provide for sliding movement of that end of the arm relative to the member 39'. The opposite end of the arm 53 is secured as by welding to a sector member 54 which is mounted for pivotal movement about a fixed pivot pin '55 carried in a conventional form of bracket supporting member 56 suitably secured within the door between the panel portions 9 and ill in a conventional manner. The sector 54 has meshing engagement with the pinion 58 enclosed with a housing 59 and which pinion, as is well known in the art, is adapted to be rotated by an appropriate crank member adjacent the inner surface of the car door. Upon rotation of the crank carrying the pinion 5B, the sector 54' may be rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise as viewed in Figure 1, with the sliding connection of the outer end of arm 53 in the slot 59 of the panel member 39 effecting raising and lowering of the window supporting means 30 to raise and lower the panel 32 to open and close the main window opening of the door 'i. When the sector member 58 is rotated in a counterclockwisev direction as viewed in Figure 1, the window panel 32 will be raised substantially vertically, and when the sector is rotated in a clockwise direction, the main window panel 32 will be lowered into the space between the inner and outer panels "9 and [0, respectively. In the raising or lowering of the main window panel 32 it will be observed that the outer tubular member 33 of the window supporting means 30 will have sliding engagement about the fixed tubular guide member IT to guide the main panel vertically upwardly and downwardly between the inner and outer panels '9 and ID of the door and to open and closed position, respectively. By virtue of the guide structure provided by the tubular member 33 and the fixed tubular member 11, the main panel 32 may be moved vertically without side guide channels. Thus, 'in'the embodiment of my invention shown, I have illustrated a main panel 32 as having its opposite side edges extending diagonally downwardly outwardly away from each other, with the forward side edge of the main panel 32 carrying a metal molding member 60 for engaging with the adjacent side edge of the quarter panel forming a seal therewith in the closed position of the main window panel of the door.

Also as more clearly shown in Figure 7, the door I may comprise customary forms of weather seals 6| made of fur or fiber or the like and which are carried by the outer panel l and a garnish molding 62 for preventing moisture from entering between the inner and outer side panels of the door. Also a conventional form of anti-rattle member 65 is adapted to be secured adjacent the upper edge of the inner door panel 9 and comprises a strip of hard felt or the like adapted to engage the inner surface of the main glass panel 32 for preventing rattling or vibration of the panel in the vehicle.

It will also be observed in Figures 1 and 2 that the inner panel 9 adjacent its lower central portion is formed with an opening 68 through which access may be had to the lower end of the tubular member I! and its mounting on the bracket l9, providing a convenient means for adjustment of the lower end of the mounting of the tubular guide member I! in assembling the guide means of my invention in the door of a vehicle. This lower opening may be closed by a removable plate or by the upholstery at the inner side of the door so that convenient access may be had to the guide means of the vehicle for servicing or repair.

While I have shown what I consider to be the preferred embodiment of my invention it will be understood that various modifications and rearrangements may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

In an automobile door or the like having a pair of vertically extending spaced apart panels and a window opening formed at the upper end thereof, the combination of supporting means between said panels of said door for supporting the lower edge of a glass panel or the like for the window opening, a post-like guide member disposed between said panels of said door and fixed at its upper end to one of said panels of said door to extend substantially vertically intermediate of the opposite side edges of said glass panel, a bracket secured to said one panel of said door adjacent the lower end of said post-like guide member, means between the lower end of said post-like guide member and said bracket for adjustably mounting the former to the latter, an elongated tubular guide sleeve journalled on said guide member and fixed to said supporting means, pinion means mounted for rotation about a fixed horizontal axis between the panels of said door, a sector mounted for rotation about a fixed axis between the panels of said door and having meshing engagement with said pinion, and an arm fixed to said sector at one end and having sliding connection at its other end with a slot in said supporting means whereby said glass panel is adapted to be raised and lowered vertically to close and open the window opening by rotation of said pinion means.

JULIUS HEZLER. JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,578,125 Hull Mar. 23, 1926 2,175,391 Hatossy Oct. 10, 1939 2,304,640 Joachim Dec. 8, 1942 2,337,867 Brotman et al. Dec. 28, 1943 2,347,750 Moroney May 2, 1944 2,366,092 Floraday Dec. 26, 1944 

